The history behind the Torchlight name has been rocky, ranging from canceled sequels to scrapped projects; now, Xindong Network and consulting producer David Brevik (former Diablo series creator) has brought over the long-awaited sequel, Torchlight: Infinite, to PC and mobile as one of Android’s best games. But just like any looter action game to set foot on your favorite gaming phone, it requires an early grasp and understanding of your skill loadouts, trees, and class customization. This is why we’ve compiled a handy beginner’s guide to help you get a handle on all these systems. This way, you can stay updated with Torchlight: Infinite’s seasonal content without stress.

Getting started

Selecting your starting build is vital in Torchlight: Infinite; the starting class/character determines your strengths and weaknesses but still tailors your class/character to a malleable playstyle as you unlock customizations.

Currently, there are five character classes to choose from:

Each character class excels at a particular playstyle determined by their hero traits. But outside of your class and hero trait, you can tinker with your talents to fine-tune your class toward your gameplay preferences. For example, Berserker is the primary melee combat specialist, whereas Commander is a typical summoner class that utilizes mech minions to fight by your side.

Multiple playthroughs in Torchlight: Infinite

You’ll eventually trial every character through new playthroughs to complete the achievements tied to each class. So it doesn’t matter which class and hero you start since you’ll juggle a few anyway, especially when more characters will release with every season’s battle pass.

Note: As more heroes get released, expect some old heroes to get balance changes and shifts.

Recommended Newbie Builds system

For first-time players, there’s a new feature available in-game that will guide your character build. It will list the recommended main, active, and passive skills and early legendary gear to watch out for. Of course, eventually, you will want to deviate and customize your own build (especially when you start unlocking hero traits), but it is still a great tool for complete beginners.

To access the Recommended Newbie Builds system, tap the sword icon next to the bag icon (top right).

Hero traits

Every starting class will come with a free hero trait. These hero traits determine your character’s appearance and quirks. Hero traits influence your build paths for your characters since you’ll likely want to build around those given quirks.

How to acquire more hero traits

You can unlock more hero traits from the paid Boon system, in-game achievements, and Hero Shop. Some hero traits can also be purchased using Hero Emblems in the subsequent season.

How to unlock and use hero traits

Hero traits are treated like new character classes; think of them as subclasses within the main character class. Unfortunately, it means you have to create a new character to use those traits since hero traits cannot be changed mid-game.

It’s encouraged to mix and match your characters for every playthrough if you desire to play with new hero traits. Although introducing new quirks can enable different builds from your main starting class, it still will carry over the basic playstyle from your main class.

Check your beginner progression

Completing objectives and earning achievements will unlock rewards, often a great source for Primocryst, required to partake in the Boon system. Once the Merit system appears, check back to collect your Primocryst.

Navigating through Torchlight: Infinite

Torchlight: Infinite touchscreen controls allow you to freely move your character model using the on-screen joystick while traversing the map — though plugging in a controller works just as well. Objective markers are displayed on the map zone to assist with navigation. In addition, every zone will spawn enemy hoards that drop randomized loot important for gearing up. Finally, warp points transfer you from one zone to another while questing and exploring, and eventually, you’ll unlock more areas on your world map so you can easily fast-travel between locations.

Tip: Always make trips back to Ember’s Rest (the Hideout) to visit shops and store extra items.

You’ll follow the main storyline for a good portion of your playthrough when starting.

Skills

There are 24 unique skills trees that offer 180+ skills for your character builds, so Torchlight: Infinite should impress any ARPG fan with its plentiful customization options. To further customize your skills, you can unlock a variety of playstyles in each character class.

Skill slots

You gain skill slots as you acquire energy. Energy is earned by leveling up characters and equipping/improving gear. Make sure to pummel all the baddies on the map to acquire enough experience and loot to unlock more slots!

Types of skills

Skills can be further classified by type: support skills, active skills, passive skills, and trigger skills. Skills can also be linked to each other; active and passive skills are linked to support skills, while trigger skills can be linked to active and support skills. Identifying support skills can be done by tapping on a skill icon and reviewing the tags — support skills will have ‘support’ as a tag.

As a new player, always pay attention to your linked support skill. You can potentially add utility to an active skill and increase the damage potency. An example is adding ‘Freeze Chance,’ which brings utility and damage; adding ‘Freeze Chance’ to a cold damage skill provides a slight opportunity to add a slow effect upon hitting your enemies while also delivering extra cold damage.

You can obtain skills by either completing quests that let you choose skills as a reward or visiting the Skill’s shop at the Hideout.

Tip: As you defeat more foes, don’t forget to visit the Skill menu for upgrades.

Talents

You can select up to three talent panels for your character. Talent panels are unlocked by leveling. Six basic talent panels are available to choose from when starting:

• God of Might
• Goddess of Hunting
• Goddess of Knowledge
• God of War
• Goddess of Darkness
• God of Machines

Each of the six basic talent panels contains three advanced talent panels to later select from once you’ve unlocked your second talent panel. Advanced talent panels contain more specialized stat buffs and substantial bonuses once you’ve invested enough talent points in that panel.

The third talent panel has no restrictions on selecting your talent panels, but it’s advised to stick to advanced talent panels to focus on your intended build. You should pick your basic talent panel carefully by paying attention to the tags listed on the talent panel overview. For example, if you want your Frostfire character to be a pure spellcaster, you’ll want to check out Goddess of Knowledge to increase your INT stat and spell potency/mana.

If this system is too complex, see Recommended Newbie Builds for additional guidance.

Talent nodes

Under your selected talent panel, you can delegate talent points (obtained from leveling up) to unlock talent nodes. Talent nodes hold your micro talents, which buffs your stats. Multiple talent points committed to a talent node can unlock the adjacent nodes. You can also unlock a major talent node if you’ve invested enough talent points.

Activated talent nodes can be reset using forgetting points (obtained by Water of Forgetting). You can also reset for free before level 70.

New players should stick to a few nodes at a time to enhance their intended character build. Feel free to experiment with early builds to your heart’s content.

Gearing up

You can equip gear by opening up your bag. Nine gear slots are available for tinkering. Enemies randomly drop gear on the map, so always pick up every bit of loot. As you progress further into the story and gain more levels, the enemies will also level up, and so does the dropped loot.

Don’t worry about immediately hunting down the best gear as a new player. Just be ready to replace your old gear with low item levels (e.g. whites and blues) with new higher-level items (e.g. purples) that contain better stats.

Tip: Look for affixes (stats) that synergize with your character builds, and prioritize increasing your survival stat and energy shield for more survivability.

Recycling your gear

Once you’ve filled up your bag, you will need to remove the lower rarity, useless gear to make room for more. Tap on Recycle to begin selecting your item excess, then tap to confirm. Items convert to fuel; you can exchange this for Flame Dust at the trader.

Pets and Pactspirits

Keep in mind that the pet system in Torchlight: Infinite is a premium system; it is there to encourage making the game (significantly) easier, but by no means necessary to have pets to beat the game.

How to get pets in Torchlight: Infinite

You must dip into the Boon system (the gacha) and use Primocryst currency. Primocrysts are acquired by completing weeklies and through battle pass rewards. You can also pay with real money for Primocrysts, but currently, Torchlight: Infinite has ways to get the currency just by playing.

Bonuses of having pets

Pets or Pactspirits change your Pact, which unlocks skill trees to give your character stat boosts, bonus experience, and drops. Up to three pets can be in your Pact at one time.

Loot-based ARPG Torchlight: Infinite in full-form

Since Diablo Immortal landed on Android, people have been hungry for polished ARPG alternatives that don’t follow greedy monetization practices. Of course, it’s still early days, but Torchlight: Infinite’s gameplay offers enough polish to give Diablo Immortal a run for its money, and since open beta, updates have been put in place to significantly improve the user experience, including the launch for controller support. But now, the game is fully ready to launch with even more improvements and overhauls packaged in, and it’s a perfect time to get your feet wet, so we’ve added the download below.